Rosie O'Donnell, Dr. Phil Weigh In On Jamie Lynn Spears 
Monday, December 24th, 2007

Illustration for Time by Dan Adel

Everyone's talking about it.  And when I say everyone, I mean everyone.  Jamie Lynn Spears, 16 and pregnant.  The father, only two years her senior, will not be facing statutory rape charges as some people have speculated, as he is within the accepted age range difference at just 17 years old.  It's coated the media like syrup, oozing and ebbing its way into every media outlet possible.

Parents whose children watched the television series Zoey 101 on Nickelodeon are now faced with a dilemma:  just what do they tell their kids?

Rosie O'Donnell posted a response to a fan on her blog, in which she discussed Jamie Lynn Spears' pregnancy with her 10-year-old, adorable, toe-headed daughter Chelsea.

The fan, KC, wrote to Rosie, "As a celeb and mom, what do [you] think Nick should do about Zoey 101?  [Your] kids don't watch TV, but will they hear about this?"

"Here's how it went," Rosie replied on her site, blogger-style.

"Mama, you know the lady with the umbrella and no hair?  [Her] sister is a teenager and she is having twin babies."

"And what do you think about that, Chels?" Rosie asked her.

"Teenagers can have babies?"

"Yes, they can," Rosie answered.  "And it is never a good idea."

"Well," he daughter replied.  "Why didn't she take pills that make you not have a baby?"

When will we come to a happy medium between teaching abstinence or birth control?  Probably never.  While I would want my child to know about both, I prefer that not be the first question he or she asks regarding a 16-year-old's pregancy...but then again, is that just realism?  Everyone draws the line differently.

Indeed, this is an issue parents all over the country, probably the world, will be discussing with their children now.  Terra Crable of Springfield, Ohio, was one of many parents that wrote to CNN about the topic.

"Unfortunately, I have no choice but to discuss it, seeing how it will cover every newsstand in the country.  I am not sure how to approach the subject with my three daughters:  twins, 9, and a 6-year-old who enjoy Spears in Zoey 101 on Nickelodeon."

Trina Gooden of Lorton, Virginia, said, "I'm trying to figure that out right now.  My daughter is 7, and I allow her to watch the show on Sundays.  More than likely I'll phase the show out of her Sunday ritual.  However, if I hear our Brownie troop talking about it, there will have to be a conversation in the near future."

Sometimes we forget that television is certainly not our only child's outlet to the world:  children talk amongst themselves just like we adults do.

Dr. Phil even weighed in on the situation to People recently.

"We know the Spears family, particularly the parents," he said.  "An asset that Britney and Jamie Lynn both have is a great and dedicated mother."  Although he says they are "troubled right now" and "really looking for the positives in this," he insists Lynne Spears has "her feet squarely and solidly on the ground."

"They're a very strong, close-knit family," Dr. Phil's wife, Robin, said.  "They're relying on each other...I talked to Lynne [Saturday] and she said they're turning to prayer, asking that I pray for them.  That's how they're going to get through it."

By the by, we didn't know Jamie Lynn was having twins.  Is this true? 

Comments > >

Wait!  There's more!
More News >>